The Blossoming & Beltane

While most of the Pagan world celebrates Beltane, I am celebrating and honoring Flora, Roman goddess of Spring and blossoming flowers, through May 3rd. My altar is adorned with fresh flowers and branches from my hedge. The blossoming is what is important for me, all that I desire to manifest, may it come into being, blossoming riotously, abundantly, and joyfully. To you and yours, I wish the same.

Beltane (Lord & Lady Song)

Artist: Lisa Thiel

Album: Circle Of The Seasons

On the full Moon in May

As One the Lord and the Lady

Tonight's the Eve of Holy Beltane

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

Creative Passions Bursting Forth

As One the Lord and the Lady

Leads us back to the Source

As One the Lord and the Lady

As the Lovers Sweetly Entwine

Filled together with a Bliss Divine

Joined together in Heart and Mind

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As the Lovers Sweetly Entwine

Filled together with a Bliss Divine

Joined together in Heart and Mind

As One the Lord and the Lady 

Great Mother Gives Birth to all things

As One the Lord and the Lady

Blessing All with the Bounty She Brings

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

All things ripen and grow

As One the Lord and the Lady

Abundance in Eternal Flow

As One the Lord and the Lady

As the Lovers Sweetly Entwine

Filled together with a Bliss Divine

Joined together in Heart and Mind

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As the Lovers Sweetly Entwine

Filled together with a Bliss Divine

Joined together in Heart and Mind

As One the Lord and the Lady 

On the full moon in May

As One the Lord and the Lady

Tonights the Eve of Holy Beltane

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

As One the Lord and the Lady

Beltane Night Full Moon Bright

Sacred visions bless our sight

Lord and Lady merge as One

As One the Lord and the Lady

Scarborough Fair

A rather wonderfully haunting version of Scarborough Fair by Nox Arcana, lyrics by Joseph Vargo. Lovely graphics too.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?


Yesterday holds memories in time.


Remember me to the one who lives there,


She once was a true love of mine.



Tell her to think back upon younger days
.

Yesterday holds memories in time.


And seek yonder crossroads where we parted ways,


Then she'll be a true love of mine.



Tell her to follow the path to the shire.


Yesterday holds memories in time
.

For there she'll find her heart's true desire
,

Then she'll be a true love of mine.



Tell her to come to the old willow tree.


Yesterday holds memories in time.

Where spirits of lost love yet whisper to thee,


Thou art still a true love of mine.



Tell her to gather three lilies of white.


Yesterday holds memories in time.


To place at my headstone, beneath the moon's light,


Then she'll be a true love of mine,


For ever she'll be the one true love of mine.


"Scarborough Fair" lyrics and arrangement © 2012 Joseph Vargo

www.noxarcana.com

Blessings nine!

The Witches' Creed

The Witches' Creed

Hear now the words of the witches,
the secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
that now we bring forth into light.

Mysterious water and fire,
the earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
and will and keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature,
the passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat,
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe'en.
When daytime and night time are equal,
when sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
thirteen is the coven's array.
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,
for each golden year and a day.
The power that was passed down the age,
each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
ere time and the ages began.

When drawn is the magical circle,
by sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies,
in land of the shades for that hour.
This world has no right then to know it,
and world of beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of Gods are invoked there;
The Great Work of magic is wrought.

For the two are mystical pillars,
that stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of nature,
the forms and the forces divine.
The dark and the light in succession,
the opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess:
Of this our ancestors teach.

The master and mistress of magic,
that dwell in the deeps of the mind,
Immortal and ever renewing,
with power to free or to bind.
So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
And Dance and make love in their praise,
Till Elphame's fair land shall
receive us in peace at the end of our days.

And Do What You Will be the challenge,
so be it Love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment.
By Magic of old, be it done!

- Doreen Valiente -

Blessings nine!

Hazel Dickens, RIP

(turn off my playlist below to listen to this)

Hazel Dickens passed away yesterday, the 22rd, at age 75. Her music was sort of bluegrass/folk/old time with a bit of rebel and feminist thrown in. Her voice was full of emotion.There was something about that voice and the songs she sang that kept me listening. I think she was pretty amazing.


Well, good journey Hazel, I know you will keep singing wherever your journey takes you. 


Blessings nine!

Making Music - A New Instrument

But the wise daughters of the Mousa

bring too their healing balm,

the soft embrace of song

Pindar, Nemean Ode

Will you just look at this beautiful girl - she is my new mountain dulcimer, Little Bessie. Her name is taken from a song by the same name, which I love. She arrived this afternoon and tonight I was playing - not wonderfully, I've only owned her for a few hours, but playing and delighted all the same. I love the sound of the mountain dulcimer and this one sings a very sweet song.

Little Bessie has four pretty hearts with vine-like scrolls carved into her and she is made of black walnut, red cedar and has a rosewood inlay. The headstock and fingerboard are maple overlay with rosewood over that. Just gorgeous and we seem to like each other very well. Many will understand this, that there can be an energetic connection between a person and a tool of art. As soon as I picked her up, I felt that connection, strong and alive.

Tomorrow I shall make appropriate offering to Hekate, for She brings creative energy to those who honor Her, for this wonderful gift. In addition, offerings to the Muses, especially Kalliope (Beautiful voice), Melpomene (Celebrating with song) and Polyhymnia (Many hymns) also seem quite appropriate. Perhaps even a dedication of this instrument to all of Them!

I just love these sweet hearts and vine-like scrolls!

My friend Susan and I are working at guitars and the dulcimer. She teaches music in her own little music school and is very talented. I go back and forth with music, but I seem to have found my perfect instrument with Little Bessie. Perhaps you'll hear us singing some night in a coffee shop or bar! Sirens strumming and singing their magical songs!

Trusting in it and in the Mousai of the crimson headdress,

I, for my part, display this gift of songs.

Bacchylides, Fragment 13

And on the immortals' hearts,

Your shafts, poetry & song

Instill a charmed spell...

Pindar, Pythian Ode

Blessings nine!